Question:
Ethylbenzene is generally prepared by acetylation of benzene followed by reduction and not by direct alkylation. Think of a possible reason.
Solution:
This is due to the formation of polysubstituted products.
To avoid the formation of polysubstituted products Friedel-craft’s alkylation reaction is not used for the preparation of ethylbenzene but one can use Friedel-craft’s acylation reaction.